Butter London Queen Vic

I'm not sure when Queen Vic was first released by Butter London, but it's been part of their core line for a good while. It wasn't new in fall 2012 when Butter London launched a collection of lacquer/lippie duos including Queen Vic. We'll just call it well-established. It's a beauty! Queen Vic is a deep rich berry creme, a Mardi Gras purple with burgundy overtones and hints of black cherry and chocolate in certain lights, dark but vivid at the same time. It's a gorgeous, feminine purple that is not in the least bit juvenile.

Application was lovely. The consistency is fluid and light and perfectly suited to Butter London's slender flexible brush. It places well and lays down in a smooth, self-leveling manner -- just a delight to apply. Pigmentation is very good. For me, Queen Vic goes on best in medium coats. It has a degree of translucence to it that is disguised by its pigmentation, and can lead to patchiness in coverage if not applied with an even hand. Full opacity can be obtained in two medium or three thin coats. I used two, but in retrospect I probably would have done better with three. Cleanup is easy but can leave trace staining on skin and cuticles. Queen Vic dries naturally in good time to a glossy finish.

Photos show two coats of Queen Vic over treatment and basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite.

Butter London Queen Vic

Butter London Queen Vic

Butter London Queen Vic

Butter London Queen Vic

Butter London Queen Vic

Butter London Queen Vic

Butter London Queen Vic

Butter London Queen Vic

Butter London Queen Vic

I love the complexity of this interplay between crimson and violet, between sophisticated glamour and playful vibrancy, between savvy chic professionalism and vampy noir heritage. Queen Vic isn't a particularly unusual color, but it's a supremely flattering one. If you enjoy dark polishes, especially reds and purples, you're sure to love this one as much for its user-friendly application as for it's deep velvety berry purple color.

love,
Liz